Reality Tv star Diem Brown has been diagnosed with cancer for a third time.

The former Real World star, 32, first battled ovarian cancer at the age of 23 and it returned in 2012. She was declared in remission last year (13) but the cancer has now been found in her colon, according to People.com.

Brown was filming a new reality show when she collapsed and was airlifted to a hospital in New York. She underwent emergency surgery last Sunday (17Aug14) after doctors discovered a large tumour blocking her colon.

Complications from the first operation caused an infection and Brown underwent another round of surgery three days later.

She is in a stable condition in an intensive care unit and her sister Megan tells People.com, "The second surgery was two steps back. But hopefully in the next few weeks she'll be well enough to start chemo (chemotherapy)... She's in and out... She's on a lot of medication but every once and a while you'll see her spirit, the light back in her eyes.

"This is the third time she's had to deal with this and she's ready for it. It's definitely an uphill battle, but I know if anybody can do it it's her."